Nothing is more important to
your health than taking care of
your heart – and now, it’s much
easier to get comprehensive
cardiac care even closer to home.
Piedmont Heart Institute – an
established leader in world-class
cardiac care – is partnering with
Eastside Medical Center to
launch a comprehensive heart
care program. This powerful
partnership means expanded
cardiology services, access to
top heart care experts, plus 24/7
access to care when it’s needed.
From prevention to intervention
to emergency care, we’re here
to help you – and your heart –
stay healthy for years to come.
Learn more at:
eastsidemedical.com

Dear Snellville Supporter:
Summer is such an exciting time in Snellville. Briscoe
Park is alive with outdoor athletic events, picnics, joggers,
and splashing in the pool. In addition, our popular Popcorn
in the Park outdoor movies will pack the park lawn with
three screenings this June, July, and August.
On the heels of the 39th annual Snellville Days Festival
we invite you to check out the lineup of great events planned
for this summer featured in this edition of Snellville Spirit.
Things are moving so fast that some events this summer
are still taking shape. We hope to produce a series of Live!
on the Lawn concerts in July, August, and September. Star
Spangled Snellville will take place on the 4th of July this year
with fireworks, food, inflatables, music and games. Start
making plans now for the first ever Around the World Visits
Snellville on September 29th in Briscoe Park.
Like so many of you, I can remember my reaction when
I first heard the tragic news about one of our own-Aimee
Copeland. My heart went out to her and her family. Many
of our Board members have sons and daughters that went to
school with Aimee at South Gwinnett. Others worked with
one or both of her parents, went to church with them, and
saw them on a regular basis around the community we all
love. An e-mail from one of our members said what we were
all thinking: “We need to help raise money for Aimee and
her family!” We quickly decided to redesign our Sizzling
Summer Weekend as a fund-raiser for Aimee.
With the help of Vickie Gallup and her daughter Brianna
Gallup Quador, we reached out to bands, athletes, artists,
media outlets, singers, food vendors and countless others to
make this year’s Sizzling Summer Weekend the biggest ever.
We hope you will come out this weekend to help us show
the world what our city motto “Everybody is Proud to be
Somebody” in Snellville really means.
Best Regards,

Snellville Tourism & Trade would like to thank La Quinta Inn &
Suites and Crestwood Suites for their support and invite all
guests to stay at one of these exceptional hotels.
Photos Courtesy: Barbara Bender

5

Community News

AIMEE’s WEEKEND
sizzling
weekend
Snellville Summer

Celebrate the first big weekend of the summer, along
with Father’s Day, with a tremendous weekend of fun in
Snellville at the Sizzling Snellville Summer Weekend on
June 15th and 16th on the Towne Green. Proceeds from
the weekend will benefit Aimee Copeland and her family.
The weekend kicks off on Friday, June 15th with Live!
on the Lawn from 5:00 - 10:00 p.m. on the Towne Green.
At this live concert and food event, STAT will present one
of Atlanta’s outstanding musical groups-Banks and Shane.
Banks and Shane has been thrilling audiences around the
world with its high-energy, hard-kicking, blow-the-roof
off sound for years. So legendary is this band, that their
fans all over the world are known as “Banks and Shaners”.
Opening for Banks and Shane will be Jordan Rager and
Elements of Style. In addition there will be food, beer and
wine, and inflatables for the kids until 8:00 p.m. Proceeds
on Friday will benefit the Aimee Copeland Fund.
On Saturday morning, June 16th, at beautiful Briscoe
Park, the weekend continues with the second annual
Eastside Medical Center’s Run of the Ville, which will take
place between 7:00 - 11:00 a.m. Run of the Ville is anchored
by the highly acclaimed half marathon event. In addition
the Run will feature a 5k run and a Fun Run/Walk. You can
register at 404-448-4801 or at the event that morning.
While the Run of the Ville is finishing up, the awardwinning Snellville Farmers’ Market will be cranking up on
the Towne Green from 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.. Featuring
over 50 fresh fruit, vegetable and meat vendors, the market
is in its third year as one of the region’s largest farmers’
markets. It is also an award winning farmers’ market.
Following on the heels of the busy market in the
morning, the afternoon will feature the second annual
Grill’n on the Green – music and food festival. This event
will feature local restaurants and vendors in addition
to beer/wine, inflatables and great live music. The event
will run from 2:00 - 11:00 p.m. in order to showcase all

6

of the great bands and individuals who have donated their
time to benefit Aimee Copeland. The line-up will include
Brandon Whitley (accoustic country), Corey Durkin
(acoustic singer/songwriter); the band Hero (soft R & B);
Wade Sapp (acoustic country/southern rock); The Fineline
Band (rock/pop/progressive country); and the Dam Band
(classic rock covers and southern rock). Donations will be
taken throughout the day for the Aimee Copeland Fund.
A LifeSouth bloodmobile will be on-site to take blood
donations. Local athletic stars like David Green, Jon and
Matt Stinchcomb, and Atlanta radio personalities will be
on hand to sign autographs and lend their support.

At a Glance:
Aimee’s Weekend / Sizzling Summer Weekend Line Up

Live! on the Lawn
5:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. on the Towne Green
Friday, June 15th
Live entertainment:
Jordan Rager
Elements of Style
Banks and Shane

Saturday, June 16th
Live entertainment:
Corey Durkin
Brandon Whitely
The Hero Band
Thad Clark
The Dam Band

Snellville Farmer’s Market
8:00 a.m. – noon on the Towne Green
Visit the open-air market featuring live music and brand
new vendors

Grill’n on the Green
2:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m. on the Towne Green
Music and food festival including local celebrities and
live music benefiting the Aimee Copeland Fund

Community News

Sun, Sand & Smiles at

BEACH

BLAST
Special Thanks from STAT
by: Joe Burnett
After months of planning it was gratifying to have the day
finally dawn bright and warm. Thanks to the generous help
of E. R. Snell Contractors and Vice President Chris Snell, the
60 tons of bright white sand were delivered by Georgia Sand &
Stone in a gigantic mound on the eve of the big event. With help
from the front-end loaders of Walters Grading and Sandman
Top Dressing, the sand was spread out and smoothed over awaiting the arrival of hundreds of children, many of whom
had never seen a real beach.
Beach decorations provided by Encore Events transformed
the Towne Green into an exotic desert island. Palm trees,
a tiki hut, a Gilligan car, parrots, netting, and pylons made
the beach scene come alive for all. Kurt Schulz hand made
the surf boards, octopus, mermaid, and shark wood cut-outs
that were painted by Kelly McAloon, Darla and Sarah Dixon,
Marcy Pharris, and Marilyn Swinney. McAloon, a STAT board
member and Beach Blast’s event coordinator, orchestrated the
watermelon eating contests, cake walk, cookie walk, and limbo
contest. A huge number of inflatables, including a water slide,
a Euro-Bungee Jump, and trackless train kept kids begging
for more all afternoon and into the evening. There was even
beach badminton for those so inclined. Kids made up games
of Frisbee, Nerf football, and catch on the Towne Green while
hundreds of their friends sculpted castles, animals, and other
creations on this fantasy seashore.
At dusk, the Back in Time Band took the stage for a two hour
medley of great beach tunes. The brass and vocals transported
old and young alike back to a more innocent time. STAT would
like to thank the city for providing their new portable stage as
well as Councilman Dave Emanuel, Councilman Bobby Howard,
and Jay Krause for all their hard work setting up and breaking
down the stage. STAT gives special thanks to all the sponsors
including E.R. Snell Contractors, Gwinnett Citizen, Collision
Consultants Auto Body, Sam’s Club, A Better Sign Company,
and the City of Snellville. Thank you to Snellville’s finest the
Police Department for keeping us safe, and to Councilman
Mike Sabbagh and Mayor Kelly Kautz who welcomed the
crowd and introduced the band. We’d like to recognize all the
STAT board members and spouses, and the many volunteers
for their hard work all day long. Most of all, we all would like to
thank Councilwoman Diane Krause and STAT board member
Susan Chappalear for the vision and encouragement to create
this wonderfully successful event.

Photos Courtesy: Barbara Bender

7

Community News
National Night Out

AGAINST CRIME
with the Snellville Police Department
by: Kathy Emanuel

Tuesday, August 7th
6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Towne Center @ Snellville
National Night Out is an opportunity to talk to
local police officers and learn more in a relaxed, fun
atmosphere how to protect yourself and your family.
The impressive Snellville Police Department Color
Guard will begin by presenting the colors for the
National Anthem, then the evening will kick off with
police demonstrations, entertainment, and kids activities
including exhibitions with SPD’s popular K-9 unit
German Shepherds.
The SPD will be on hand to demonstrate police
vehicles with the latest crime-fighting accessories,
tactical equipment, and weapons. Members of the Police
Department including Chief of Police Roy Whitehead
will be available to answer questions. There will be
demonstrations by the K-9 units as well as examples of
traffic stops, self-defense and gun safety, and information
on increasing home security.
Ongoing entertainment, including a treasure hunt
for the kids and child fingerprinting IDs will also be
available. Representatives from the Snellville Police
Explorers will discuss this unique unit that focuses on
law enforcement education for teenagers. The Snellville
Citizens’ Police Academy Alumni Association will have
information regarding the Citizens’ Police Academy.
The Snellville Work-Intelligence-Network, a group of
local merchants and banks that meet regularly to share
information with law enforcement to help deter and
report criminal activity, will also have a booth to educate
about their program.
This event offers an opportunity for the residents of
Snellville to connect with their local police and learn how
they can take an active part in promoting not only their
own security and safety, but how they can contribute to
the efforts of their local police to make all of Snellville
a safer place to live and work. The event is free and
all Snellville citizens and members of the business
community are encouraged to attend.

8

THE INAUGURAL

BEACH BLAST RUN

Community News

The Results Are In!

On Saturday, May 19th, the 1st annual Snellville Beach Blast Run kicked off with 70 runners competing in a 10k, a 5k
and a 1 mile Fun Run. The route began inside Briscoe Park, circled surrounding neighborhoods, and wound around
Pate Lake.
Gwinnett County Commissioner Mike Beaudreau was the first runner to cross the finish in the 10k, Peyton Adkins
crossed the finish first in the 5k race, and Spencer Viternse crossed in front in the Fun Run. All proceeds from the
races will benefit the Snellville Citizens Police Academy Alumni Association (SCPAAA) and the Snellville Rotary Club.
Snellville extends huge congratulations to all the participants who made this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s inaugural run such a success!

Shovels hit the dirt on April 22nd in Briscoe Park,
heralding the official groundbreaking for the Community
Garden @ Snellville. Welcoming a crowd of over 85
Snellville citizens, including Snellville Mayor Kelly Kautz,
Mayor Pro Tem Tom Witts, City Council Members
Dave Emanuel, Bobby Howard and Diane Krause,
State Representative Brett Harrell, and Superior Judge
Candidate Tracey Mason Blasi, the ceremony included
the unveiling of the 3D master plan illustration and
planting of apple trees in celebration of Arbor Day.
In addition to its primary purpose of providing
space for families to grow flowers, vegetables, and fruit,
the Community Garden will add a new dimension to
Snellvilleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sense of community. Its design will make it
suitable as a school field trip destination, and also includes
an amphitheater that can be used for both youth and
adult seminars. Master gardeners will be hosting informal
instructional classes in the near future, and when pavilion
and gazebo constructions are completed, the garden will
also be ideal for special events.
Attendees learned the garden will be constructed in
multiple stages. When completed, the site will feature a
greenhouse, compost area, two small barns, and several
pavilions. Garden plots will soon be available for a
nominal rental fee.
The Community Garden @ Snellville was
conceptualized completely by volunteers. With the
construction officially underway, this volunteer corps
plans to build and maintain the garden property. The
project still has many opportunities to participate,
including digging in the dirt, assisting with a variety of
construction projects, contributing building materials
and/or providing financial assistance. Any interested
individuals are encouraged to contact Community
Garden @ Snellville on Facebook.

10

Photos Courtesy: Kathy Emanuel

Community News

visits

This September come and experience a voyage around
the globe without ever leaving your neighborhood public
park! The Snellville Tourism and Trade Association
presents â&#x20AC;&#x153;Around the World Visits Snellville.â&#x20AC;? Join
neighbors and friends as we celebrate Snellvilleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s growing
international community with a dazzling array of
international art, cultural displays, traditional costumes,
dances, music, and exotic flavors. Collect â&#x20AC;&#x153;passportâ&#x20AC;?
stamps from each country represented to document
your cultural experience. Briscoe Park will feature main
stage performances and demonstrations, international
vendors, and global bazaars. Bring the whole family for
an educational day dedicated to culture, food, and fun.
If you would like to be involved or have additional
questions please contact Aysha Cooper 404-805-3464 or
Keisha Cameron 678-597-8811.

%ULVFRH3DUNÂ&#x2021;SP

June 9th

Wednesday, July 4th
Begins at 3:00 p.m.; Concert at 5:00 p.m.

The largest July 4th event
in the area!
Continuing the long tradition established by First
Baptist Church of Snellville, the Snellville Tourism
and Trade Association will present an unforgettable
4th of July experience in the heart of Towne Center.
Star Spangled Snellville begins at 3:00 p.m. with family
friendly entertainment, including the tastes and smells
of some of the finest holiday foods on the Towne Green
along with a large playground of inflatables, train rides,
and a space ball. A whole host of games will entertain
attendees all afternoon, such as a watermelon-eating
contest, cake walk, cookie walk, and pie-eating contest.
Food vendors include Texas Roadhouse, Reyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Cuban
CafĂŠ, the Lionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Club, and many others.
The 50-piece Gwinnett County Orchestra will
perform a patriotic concert from the Main Stage at
8:00 p.m. and a recorded melody of patriotic music
will accompany the huge fireworks display following
the concert at dusk. Opening for the orchestra will be
Snellvilleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s own singing police officer, Thad Clark. Thad
will also perform the national anthem at 8:00 p.m..
Come in your best red, white and blue, and bring
your blankets and chairs to assure your seats for the
music and fireworks show.
Thank you to our 2012 sponsors: Summit Chase
Country Club, Eastside Medical Center, The Gwinnett
Citizen, City of Snellville and Hamilton Financial

-XO\VW
presented by

$XJXVWWK

A Special Thank You
to First Baptist Church of
Snellville and Snellville First
United Methodist Church for
offering their spacious parking
lots for this great event.
11

Community News
Update from

EASTSIDE MEDICAL
Snellville’s Community Hospital

Eastside Medical Center is making significant strides
and I wanted to take this opportunity to provide you
with a high level summary of what is happening in your
community hospital.
Improving the health and wellness of our community
is one of Eastside’s top focuses. At some point, we will all
require healthcare services and our community deserves
the best, right here in Snellville.
We believe that hospitals don’t heal patients, people
do. Our team of providers and caregivers is skilled,
committed, and continuously improving to ensure that
you get the best, right here at home.
In addition to our committed team, we are also
expanding the healthcare services we offer and
continuously recruiting highly skilled physicians to join
our team.
Eastside recently opened the comprehensive “Eastside
Spine Center” on our campus. The spine center is run by
a triple boarded physician, Dr. Ruben Diaz, to evaluate
and treat patients who have back or neck trouble. Dr.
Diaz works closely with any other physician who may
need to be involved in your care to ensure you receive
conservative, compassionate, and comprehensive care
right here at home.
Eastside opened a state of the art interventional cardiac
catherization program. This means if you or a loved
one is having a heart attack or requires an intervention,
commonly referred to as a stent or angioplasty, they
will have immediate access to care at Eastside Medical
Center. The faster a patient receives treatment, the more

12

“heart muscle” can be saved. Our cardiac cath program
is equipped with brand new, state of the art labs and will
be run by a nationally recognized heart program and
physicians, the Piedmont Heart Institute.
In addition to our new service offerings, you may
have also noticed significant construction activity on our
campus. Eastside opened a new and expanded emergency
department earlier this year. With the expanded “ER” and
complete commitment from our team, we are significantly
reducing wait times to ensure our patients see our doctors
and caregivers in a timely fashion. You may have also
noticed the cranes and steel erecting behind the existing
building. We are in the midst of our “North Tower”
expansion, which will include the addition of forty-eight
new private rooms as well as an expanded and renovated
surgical suite. The north tower is expected to open
in December of this year and will not only expand our
capacity, but will ensure our patients and surgeons have
some of the most technologically advanced operating
suites in the area.
It is a pleasure for our team to serve the community
and as always, thank you for trusting us to care for you
and your loved ones.
Sincerely,

Eastside Medical

Snellville Spirit magazine would like to recognize 1st place
winner Stephanie Wagner, who was awarded both 1st
and 2nd prizes in 2011 Pursuit of Excellence Gwinnett
County Art competition held at Cobble Creek Studios.
She was erroneously omitted in last issue’s article naming
the county-wide art competition winners. Art instructor
Debi West of North Gwinnett High School was mistakenly
named among the winners. Cobble Creek Studios Director
Deborah Kepes said, “The work was spectacular. The art
instructors in the Gwinnett School System should also be
applauded for their efforts they make to not only instruct
art, but teach them the business of art as well.” The list of
winners in the competition is as follows:

A SUCCESS
by: Debbie Puette
The City of Snellville Parks and Recreation Department would like to
express our gratitude to the Snellville Days Committee, Snellville Days
Sponsors, volunteers, parade participants, and festival attendees for all
they did to make this festival possible. The event welcomed over 25,000
attendees, with families, craftmakers, and artisans coming from across
the Southeast.
If you enjoyed this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s festival, we are looking for suggestions
for improvements. Please visit our Snellville Days Facebook
page and leave your thoughts. Next year will be our 40th
anniversary festival, and we would like to present your
feedback at the Snellville Days Committee meeting to make
2013 our best event ever.

Heat at the Rink
Mark your calendars this month as
SGAA hosts the ECHO Nationals
tournament series June 19th – 24th.
Welcoming inline hockey teams
from up the entire east coast, the stiff
competition and large grand prize will
make for excellent spectating.

Registration
Opens Soon!
Gwinnett County has some of the strongest athletics and
parks infrastructure in the nation. Named Sports illustrated 50th
Anniversary Sportstown for having the best community sports
programs, Gwinnett was also awarded the Grand Gold medal by
the National Recreation and Park Association and the American
Academy for Park and Recreation Administration, naming it the
number one park agency in the country.
Our community’s strong network of parks and green space
is backed by sports associations, high school booster clubs,
and countless parents and volunteers. These highly organized,
pitifully under-recognized groups spend hundreds of hours
every year organizing practices, leagues, and community teams.
The love of sports that is fostered in the dugout, the deep
end, or the end zone of Briscoe Park, high school intramural
fields, and our HOAs is now revealing itself in stellar athletic
performances and state titles. Gwinnett athletics took two backto-back football state championships in the last two years, with
Brookwood High School winning the title in 2010, and Grayson
High School triumphing over Walton in 2011. South Gwinnett
Athletic Association’s Ronnie Williams points out, “Almost every
high school in Gwinnett County is a 5A school for athletics. That
shows what a strong athletic community we have here.”
For our communities to foster championship teams at a high
school level, the athletic excellence has to start young. It’s no
surprise that summers in Snellville are packed with outstanding
athletic opportunities. From kicking the ball around with summer
league friends, to national level tournament competitions
in state-of-the-art facilities, Snellville has a sports option for
every age group and skill level. This infrastructure is key in our
community’s quality of life, health, and economy. We hope this
summer you’ll find something that gets you out on the field or
into the swimming lanes. Read on to discover the scope of our
city’s athletic offerings.

[Spotlight on]
INLINE HOCKEY
SGAA Fosters Lifelong Love
Housing the largest inline hockey program in the
Southeast, South Gwinnett Athletics Association is
Snellville’s go-to organization for recreational sports and
summer leagues. Not only is it one of the area’s most
professional and well-oiled athletics associations, it’s also
an incredibly strong community institution. Fostering
love for inline hockey since the program’s inception in
1996, SGAA Director Tim Gaines says loyalty takes hold
fast within the sport. Many young hockey players on
junior leagues continue to play at SGAA until becoming
coaches and administrators.
During its infancy, the inline hockey program
operated outside on the hot Georgia tarmac. The game,
foreign to most warm weather Georgians, quickly became
popular. SGAA Director of Operations Ronnie Williams,
who started as a rec league assistant coach in 1996, now
sits on three different state roller hockey boards. “I had
never even skated, but my son wanted to play, so I was
researching the game by watching VHS tapes,” he laughs.
Over the next 16 years the program grew exponentially.
The facility was moved indoors in 2002, the rink boards
and floor laid by the volunteers themselves. It is now the
largest two-rink facility in Georgia, hosting the most
national level tournament play anywhere in the Southeast.
Williams attributes the sport’s popularity to the fast pace
and indoor sanctuary from Georgia heat. As opposed to
the lengthy game play of baseball or football – the only
sports available during his youth – Williams says in inline
hockey, “as a player, you’re always engaged. Although the
game can be over within an hour, every player gets to play
and is involved even from the sidelines.” Williams’ son,

Trace, who started playing when he was 9 years old, is now
24 and still deeply involved at SGAA, playing on the adult
team and refereeing. At 18, Trace was selected to compete
in the inline hockey world championships in Dusseldorf,
Germany, the only SGAA athlete to date to be selected by
Team USA.
George Goodwin, who joined the adult league in
2005, now simultaneously coaches three junior travel and
recreational teams. His three young sons also play. “Playing
and coaching hockey at SGAA has made us a part of an
extended family,” Goodwin says. “We’ve been involved with
multiple other organizations around Atlanta for recreational
sporting activities, and in our opinion, none have measured
up to the family atmosphere that we have with SGAA.”
The association’s size and organization is a true feat of
community support and dedication. Run almost entirely
by volunteers, SGAA’s success can be attributed to the
community’s commitment to athletics. Williams and
Goodwin like most other coaches, juggle their SGAA
commitments with full time professions. “I wouldn’t do this
if I didn’t love it,” admits Williams. The time investment all
seems worth it when the kids are happy: “The kids really are
number one,” he says. “What I enjoy the most is seeing them
on the rink with smiles on their faces playing a great sport.”

Get Started at SGAA
Anyone age 5-65 interested in inline hockey, are
invited to email Program Director Tim Gaines at
tgaines@sgaasports.com. SGAA offers a First Time
Player Program for $50.
Don’t miss the FREE Learn To Skate/Learn To Play
program every Tuesday night at the Dual Deck Arena.

17

What has it been like to see your children grow up
playing the sport?
It was been pure joy to see the boys enjoy and thrive in
the sport. Georgie (9 years old), Xavier (7 years old) and
Christopher (5 years old) all play hockey at SGAA. They
all started in more traditional sports in Georgia, like
baseball, basketball and soccer, but each one gravitated
toward hockey. Once they tried it, none of them wanted
to go back. Even more important to me is that it gives us
time together, a common ground and serves as a platform
for many life lessons that I get to teach them right in the
moment.

GET TO KNOW:
SGAA Head Coach George Goodwin
What originally attracted you to the sport of inline hockey?
My parents are originally from Minnesota and so I was very
familiar with the sport of ice hockey growing up. Once inline
skates became available, National Inline Hockey Association
started and I jumped at the opportunity to play while I was
in college in the early 90s in Arizona. It was the closest
means to playing hockey without the need for ice (especially
advantageous in Arizona).
Little known facts about this sport?
Offense and stick handling are emphasized more in roller as
there is no checking, there is more room to move with fewer
players, and there are no offsides or icing penalties. A real plus
for inline hockey is the cost to play a season of competitive
inline hockey is much lower than its ice counterpart.
How is the experience of coaching different than being a
player?
This may sound a bit odd at first, but coaching takes a lot
more energy than playing. When you play, you’re mostly
concerned about your own individual effort, positioning,
and skill. When you coach, you have to think about the
motivation and execution of these three things for 10 to 12
individuals. You think about it before the games, during
them, and long after they’re over.
As a coach, I love seeing the kids improve through the
season - growing in skill, confidence and character - it’s very
rewarding. As a player, especially as a goalie, I love the thrill
of performing under pressure - as the saying goes, “standing
on your head.”

18

What is special about SGAA? What do you think SGAA
brings to the Snellville community?
SGAA is like extended family. People genuinely try
to help each other and great friendships result for both
the kids and parents. What I find is that kids that come
to SGAA to play sports keep coming back. In hockey
specifically, most of the kids I coach quickly make hockey
their favorite sport, and can’t seem to get enough. SGAA
fosters a sense of community in Snellville - an important
vehicle for people to come together for common interests
and fun. SGAA promotes healthy kids through sports
and activities and provides a great facility for all to enjoy.

[Spotlight On]

TENNIS & GOLF
Hometown Heroes Offer Intimate,
Intensive Lessons
Summit Chase, Snellville’s most beloved familyrun country club, is set back from the highway
nestled in the wooded fields off Main Street. Not
only has Summit Chase preserved a large swath
of green space from development, the club also
functions as a hometown relic. The white washed
walls, bow ties, and first-name exchanges that
are common on Summit Chase grounds preserve
the small town intimacy that makes Snellville so
family-friendly. Since 1980 the club has offered
world-class golf, tennis, and swimming on their
rolling greens and state-of-the-art sports facilities.
Their athletic programs, taught by local and
national sports professionals, consistently produce
exceptional athletic talent. This summer offers even
more reason to hone your skills on the court or the
course with Summit Chase’s wide variety of entry
level, intermediate, and expert clinics and camps.

Summer Fun Feature

PROGRAM LISTING
SUMMIT CHASE GOLF ACADEMY

SUMMIT CHASE TENNIS

Intermediate Golf Academy

Quickstart Tennis Team

This instruction is for players (boys and girls) in the 6th,
7th & 8th grades with advanced skills who are looking
to excel in the game of golf with goals of playing in high
school and beyond at a competitive level. You must apply
with the golf professional.
Two days per week for 4 weeks
5:00 - 6:30 p.m. Tuesday/Wednesday
June 19th - 27th, July 10th - 18th

Quickstart team tennis is offered year-round by invitation
from the Tennis Academy Director, Steve Hill. The
Quickstart tennis team is held two days a week for four
weeks on Saturday, 12:30 - 2:00 p.m. and Monday, 6:00 7:00 p.m..

Advanced Golf Academy
The Advanced Academy is designed for the golfer who
is either on a golf team, going out for a team and/or the
golfer who is looking to succeed in the game. Drills focus
on all areas of the game including course management
and mental toughness. Drills on the range are transposed
to situations on the course to help the golfer lower his/
her scores. The aim for these drills is to keep the junior
golferâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s game sharp year round through the use of these
sessions and participation in regional and/or club junior
golf tournaments. Placement in Advanced Academy is
determined by a player evaluation with the Director of
Golf, David Epps.
Two days per week for 4 weeks
3:00 - 4:30 p.m. Tuesday/Wednesday
June 19th - 27th, (skip week of July 4th), July 10th - 18th
Junior Private Lessons: Lessons are available at a reduced
rate for juniors. All lessons are Â˝ hour with a PGA
professional at Summit Chase.

Tennis Academy
Tennis Academy is offered year-round by invitation from
the Tennis Academy Director, Steve Hill. Tennis Academy
is held four days per week, Tuesday through Friday 3:45
- 5:45 p.m. for advanced elite, and 5:45 - 7:30 p.m. for
intermediate advanced. When school is out these two are
combined and offered Tuesday through Friday, 11:30 a.m.
- 1:30 p.m.
Players in the Academy are offered a discount on private
lessons.
Camp start dates may vary due to inclement weather
requiring make- up sessions.

19

Business News
The Business Owners’

SECRET WEAPON
Snellville Business Toolbox Official Launch
The City of Snellville Office of Economic Development,
in partnership with the Snellville Entrepreneur Council, is
proud to launch a new online resource for small businesses
in Snellville. The Snellville Business Toolbox is a one-stopshop that has a variety of resources and tools to help start,
sustain, or grow businesses. This invaluable tool will set the
Snellville business and entrepreneurship community apart
from all others and foster a community of entrepreneurship
and economic vitality. For more information or questions,
contact Eric Van Otteren at 770-985-3502 or email
economicdevelopment@snellville.org.

Students Pitch Big Ideas,

WIN BIG MONEY
1st Annual Community Investor Panel Competition
On Tuesday, May 8th, nine high school entrepreneurs
walked out of Snellville City Hall with $2,500 in start-up
funding. A six-person Community Investor Panel heard
fifteen students from the South Gwinnett High School
Entrepreneurship Alliance pitch their businesses in a
contest similar to the hit TV show “Shark Tank.” Students
gave a five minute pitch, and then were subjected to five
minutes of hard-hitting questions from the Community
Investor Panel. The panel, made up of successful business
people from Snellville, had donated personal and business
funds to support the young entrepreneurs and the
program.

20

The big winner for the day was Jon Gayden, whose
business, IpodResQ, a personal electronics repair service
won $500, and the Investors’ Choice Award of $100.
This funding will be used for purchasing materials to fix
damaged smartphones. Another business that did well
was Khoobsurat Kreations, a henna tattoo and eyebrow
threading salon, which won $400 to grow their already
successful business.
The South Gwinnett High School Entrepreneurship
Alliance is a program created from a partnership between
South Gwinnett High School and the City of Snellville,
with the joint goal of educating Snellville’s next workforce
in entrepreneurship education, while creating new
employment opportunities for the community. For more
information, contact Eric Van Otteren at 770-985-3502 or
email economicdevelopment@snellville.org.

SHOP ON SCENIC
by: Claude Baham
Snellville’s Scenic Highway corridor is a great place to
shop. And now Shop on Scenic, an exciting new economic
partnership between retail and service businesses, is
making it even better. Shop on Scenic combines buying
power and marketing dollars to provide better goods and
services to shoppers on Scenic Highway.
The primary goal of Shop on Scenic is to increase the
value of the businesses along Scenic Highway. Through a
cooperative effort between area businesses and Snellville’s
Office of Economic Development, we will develop the
area as the premier place to shop in Gwinnett County.
Current Shop on Scenic projects include the creation
of a discount shopper’s card for businesses and retailers
and identifying signage. The discount cards will enable
businesses and shoppers alike to pool special offers and
earn points or additional discounts between partnered
Shop on Scenic businesses. Businesses will enjoy greater
traffic in their stores and customers will enjoy a wider
array of discounts.
Shop on Scenic will soon be launching a website and
Facebook page to provide expanded consumer awareness
and interaction. For more information on the ways “Shop
on Scenic” can benefit your business, contact us at info@
ShoponScenic.com.

SHORTEN YOUR

COMMUTE!
The Snellville Office of Economic
Development wants to ease traffic and
reduce commute times. We are researching
possible collaborative offices and satellite
campuses right here in Snellville. Help
us gauge interest and possible corporate
partners: Please send an email to
economicdevelopment@snellville.org with
your company name and location of your
daily commute.

21

Snellville Commerce Club

Commerce Club Awards

STAND OUT

SCHOLARS
Brookwood High School senior Robert â&#x20AC;&#x153;Coleâ&#x20AC;?
Hembree and South Gwinnett High School senior Asante
Farquharson were named this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s recipients of the
Snellville Commerce Club college scholarships. Each
year, the club presents a scholarship to a graduate from
each school who participates in their schoolâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Future
Business Leaders of America (FBLA) or Distributive
Education Club of America (DECA) program.
Club co-president Jon Richards said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Again
this year, the scholarship selection committee was
very impressed by the quality of the applications we
UHFHLYHGDQGFKRRVLQJWKHEHVWRIWKHEHVWZDVGLIĂ&#x20AC;FXOW
The FBLA and DECA programs at South Gwinnett and
Brookwood provide a great opportunity for students to
learn about entrepreneurship and prepare for rewarding
FDUHHUV,WLVDQKRQRUWRUHFRJQL]HWKHVHĂ&#x20AC;QHVWXGHQWVÂľ
With two inspiring stories, Asante and Cole have
accomplished great things in their short four years of
high school. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s clear that both students have even
greater things in store as they head to college in the fall.

With a long list of accolades ranging from DECA Regional Champion and
DECA Chapter President, to Gwinnett County Parks and Recreation lifeguard
instructor, this Brookwood graduate epitomizes the American bootstrap success
story. Cole Hembree admits that his high school career started off rocky, “I made
mistakes with grades that have affected me now. I learned from my mistakes and
have willingly admitted them in order to become a better student,” he wrote in
his Commerce Club scholarship essay. “I had to realize that I was growing up. I
realized that I was expected to take responsibility for my actions and nobody else
could be blamed.” During his senior year, Cole revolutionized his record, working
his way up to DECA president, the high school marketing and entrepreneurship
club. “Being president really inspired me to have a better outlook on life,” he says.
“And through it I also gained a new social circle that I now count among my
closest friends.”
Jimmy Norton, President of the Snellville Commerce Club, was especially
impressed with Cole’s self-motivation and marketing leadership. “In addition to
succeeding in DECA, he managed jobs, college planning, and civic service; all
indicators of an achiever,” Norton says.
With the Commerce Club scholarship, Cole will pursue studies in biology and
marketing management at Georgia Gwinnett College. Inspired by scalpels and
dissection in his 7th grade biology class at Crews Middle School, Cole has career
aspirations of studying disease and prevention at the CDC, ideally “studying
viruses.”
“Dissecting and finding out what the body does and learning how the
environment works together has always just been a fascinating topic,” he says.
Cole’s plans to go to GGC will keep him close to his family and friends at home.
“Snellville is my home now, and I don’t think I could leave all my friends and my
dad here while I was off to college,” he says. His father’s influence served as the
main catalyst for Cole’s high school reformation. “It has just been me and him
living together for all 18 years of my life, and I look up to him. When we would
sit down and talk about my future it made me think about what I was doing...”
Cole was awarded a $1000 stipend from the Snellville Commerce Club just before
graduation in May.

23

Photo Courtesy: Jon Richards

Scholarship Winner

Asante
Farquharson
South Gwinnett
High School

University:
Georgia State University

Intended
major:
Neuroscience

24

Before graduating high school Asante Farquharson had been awarded the
key to the city. In the next few years she will own and run her own boutique in
downtown Snellville. She’ll do this while simultaneously studying to be a brain
surgeon. Her motivation? “I wish nothing but to see the smile on my mom’s face
when she turns to her friends and says, ‘See, that’s MY daughter!’” she says.
During her high school career, Asante has divided her time between
volunteering at the Red Cross blood drive, interning at Eastside Medical hospital,
and taking various leadership roles inside South Gwinnett’s DECA chapter. Her
plans are already underway to develop an accessory boutique called Jem’s Gems.
Asante talks authoritatively about her business strategy, pointing out “there are
no accessory stores currently in Snellville and I know I could fill that demand for
all age groups. Although I am sincerely passionate about my medical aspirations,
my mother always told me it is best to try and be your own boss, especially in this
economy.”
Her interest in medicine sprang from her fascination with her younger sister’s
peculiar habits. “She would perform the ritual of measuring and re-measuring her
bed sheet edges, making sure they were perfectly symmetrical.” Later diagnosed
with a mild case of obsessive compulsive disorder, her sister’s behavior incited
Asante’s curiosity. “Ever since then, my mother and I have read medical journal
after medical journal about the brain. I frequently go on YouTube to watch brain
surgeries. It is one of the most intricate and complex surgeries but that is why I am
drawn to it,” she says.
Asante attests her mother is not only the family bedrock, but her most
motivating role model. “She raised three girls, while going back to school, and
working. How does she stay sane? That is what a definition of a strong black
woman is if I ever saw one. She has pushed me to do better for myself in school
and for my community.”
It was exactly this community commitment that touched the Snellville
Commerce Club scholarship committee. Jimmy Norton, Commerce Club
President says, “Asante not only placed in the top 5 percent of her class, but has
started a volunteer medical internship in our community.”
Asante received a $1000 stipend from the Commerce Club and is planning to
attend Georgia State University in the fall.

Basketball, volleyball, and tennis courts are available
on a first come, first served basis without lights
during park hours.
Tennis lessons are available. Contact USPTR
Certified Instructor Jean Hagan at 770-469-5966.

For room or pavilion rentals, call the park office at 770-985-3535.
For field or athletic facility rentals, contact Matt Wright at 770-985-3533.

29

Spotlight On: Snellville Seniors

ACTION PACKED

Summer for Seniors
by: Debbie Puette
There’s no slowing down for those over the age of 62 in Snellville. No, the
Snellville Senior Center has plans to keep your days occupied with lots of fun
activities this summer. Even though they already have over 300 members,
they are sometimes still referred to as “Snellville’s best kept secret.” One
thing’s for sure: you can’t beat the price. For only $25 per year, you can
become a member and enjoy a variety of programs. City limit residents even
get a discount and they only pay $15 a year. Wow, what a deal! They have
a small workout room with bikes and weight machines. There is also a pool
room with a large screen TV, computer lab, book area and more. Not to
mention a number of ways to keep you healthy such as aerobics, Zumba, and
Pilates classes. They offer Spanish, computer, crochet and knitting classes.
Day and overnight trips are offered as well. Here is just a taste of what they
have coming up. Be sure and stop by and check it out. Kathi, Leslie or Wayne
would love to show you around.

BINGO
1st Friday of each month
Bring a snack to share and join in the fun. Who knows, you
could be a winner!!

SENIOR DANCES
2nd Sunday of each month
7:30 - 10:30 p.m.
Cost: $12 per person
Come enjoy the great music by the new Laigh Langley
band. Refreshments served.

30

SIPS, DIPS & DABS
Tuesday, June 19th
4:00 -7:00 p.m.
Cost: $25, includes all supplies.
Come learn how to paint or join us if you already can.
Lynn Ulmer will be our instructor for the evening as
we complete a beautiful piece of art. Yes, even if you
have never painted before, you will go home with some
treasured artwork. Everyone is asked to bring a dip to
share. The center will provide drinks, chips and other
snacks.

LOW IMPACT AEROBICS
Mondays & Thursdays
9:15 a.m.

MEDIUM IMPACT AEROBICS
Mondays & Thursdays
10:15 a.m.

ANNUAL COOKOUT
Wednesday, July 18th
We plan to grill hotdogs and hamburgers outside, but we eat
inside where itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s nice and cool. All members of the center are
invited to join us for a free lunch from the Snellville Parks
& Recreation Department. You will be able to request songs
from the past for the DJ to play. Ice cream will be provided by
PNC Bank. Space is limited so sign up soon!

Call the Snellville Senior Center to sign up for any of these events at 770-985-3580. If you are
not a member, but are interested in joining, your first three visits are free. So give it a try!
A full calendar of events can be found on their website,
www.snellville.org under the Parks and Recreation Department.

Hill Top

PAWN
WE BUY

GOLD
&
SILVER!

Pawn Broker / Federal Firearms
Licensed Dealer
We are a family-owned full service pawn broker/retail
merchant, located in downtown Snellville, GA. We first
opened our doors in 1994, and since have served thousands of customers. People come from all over Georgia
to take advantage of our great deals and great customer
service. Please come visit us at our new store location at
1882 Athens Highway/Hwy 78, right beside the QuikTrip.

Body of Health will be providing
free chair massages at various times
prior to or following our regular
exercise classes:

Snellville Farmers’ Market

STROLL, SHOP,
AND SING-ALONG
A season of new offerings at the
Snellville Farmers’ Market
by: Gretchen Schulz
June 2nd marked the opening day for the award-winning
Snellville Farmers’ Market. As in previous years the market will
be held from 8:00 a.m. to noon on the Towne Green in front of
Snellville City Hall.
The market was recently featured in a USA Today travel story
that named 10 farmers’ markets throughout the nation worthy
of a summer vacation visit. Last season the market was voted
the #1 market in Georgia and the #3 market nationwide in the
large market category in a contest administered by American
Farmland Trust.
Many vendors who have been customer favorites will be
returning this season, including Dillwood Farms, King of Pops,
Buffalo Lick Farm, Cooking with Bubba, Pearson Farm, Snellville
Honey, Purely Simple Catering, Rick Rack Rosie, Goodness
Gracious Granola, and Thompson Family Farm. The farmers’
market is ecstatic to welcome several stellar new vendors to the
market this season, offering organic produce, homemade baked
goods, and fresh breads among many other locally sourced goods.
In addition, the Gwinnett County Extension Service will host
a booth several times during the market season. Master gardeners
will be on hand to answer questions, provide resources, and offer
advice about home gardening.
More live entertainment is coming to the market this year
as well. Thanks to the city’s new mobile stage, purchased with
the 2009 SPLOST funds, the market will now feature more live
music while you shop and browse. Local performers interested
in booking performances can email the market committee at
snellvillefarmersmarket@gmail.com.
Photos Courtesy: Kathy Emanuel

32

Snellville Farmersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Market

NEW THIS SEASON AT SFM:
BEST BREAD BAKING COMPANY
Mediterranean-style breads and artisan baked goods,
all made in a small Chamblee bakery that some
reviewers have called the â&#x20AC;&#x153;best little bakery in Atlantaâ&#x20AC;?

LIVE ENTERTAINMENT
Watch local performers on the Snellville mobile stage

Experienced care for them.
Peace of Mind for you.
Adult Day Care Centers
At SarahCare, we keep families together by providing a
vibrant and social center for seniors who require
assistance during the day, in turn providing
peace of mind for the family.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;At SarahCare. we believe life in
the senior years should be
enjoyed, not endured.â&#x20AC;?

Get to Know: The Honey Man
by: Emily Hill
Where are you from originally and when did you move
to Snellville?
Originally I’m from Eastern Europe, Romania. I was
born in Bucharest. Romania is a beautiful country with
a beautiful language that derived from Latin roots – close
to Italian, French, and Spanish. I came to this country
in 1981, first to Chicago, and then moved to Snellville 15
years ago. Snellville is a city with deep southern roots, and
history, and we love living here.
Your honey business started as a hobby – what sparked
your interest in honey and beekeeping?
My interest in bees’ lives started many, many years ago
when I was 13 or 14 years old. Born in Bucharest, the
capital of Romania, we did not have any agricultural high
schools close to the city limits. My only option was to read
and study any books about bees I could get my hands on.
After all, the entire world is worried about this amazing
little insect because they have mysteriously started to
disappear… and the bees are responsible for over 75% of
our food chain by pollinating wild and cultivated plants.
Without bees, it would be very hard and difficult to have
any harvest at all. Honey bees, also known scientifically as
Apis mellifera, are vital pollinators.
Five years ago, I decided to finally make the big step. I
brought home a few hives where I experimented with the
beauty and uncertainty of bee keeping.

Edward Sezonov, also known as “The Honey Man”
was a young Romanian boy with a fascination for
bees. Decades later, as a suburban Atlanta family
man, he resurrected his boyhood passion and
turned his hobby into a career. Sezonov now owns
and operates 31 local hives, and derives as much
pleasure from honey cultivation as he does sharing
his passion for apiculture each week at the Snellville
Farmers’ Market.
34

What is the hardest thing about working with bees?
What is the most rewarding?
The hardest thing about working with bees is that you
begin to love them so much…but they don’t like to be
petted. They are so perfect, and well organized…almost
like a little military base in a wooden box. Most of the
time, you are on the defense, accepting and taking the risk
that you will be stung.
As for the most rewarding, everybody will be tempted
to say “the honey!” but if you do the right things and
have patience, the honey will come anyway—this is what
bees do! Instead, the most rewarding thing is properly
preserving the swarm. If a swarm is lost, then you’ll lose
more than half of the bee colony and more than half of the
honey they already made. More importantly, there is the
grave chance the swarm will not survive in the wild or be
poisoned by human pesticides.

It is also incredible to think that honey never spoils. They
found honey in the tombs of King Tutankhamen that is over
2,000 years old and is still edible. The most little known
thing about bees is that they are technically classified as
“livestock” – the only livestock without fences or boundaries.

Snellville Farmers’ Market

have the potential to develop into either a queen or a worker.
It all depends on the kind of diet the young larva receives
after it is hatched.
The Queen flies 600 feet up into the air toward the sun to
mate with a whole swarm of drones, but only one succeeds.
She will then lay 1,500 eggs a day, more than her own body
weight in eggs. They always come back to the same hive
because of the queen’s secretion of a very particular scent:
her pheromones. The queen is the brain of the hive. Neither
the hive population nor the queen can survive as individuals.

What makes your Snellville Honey special?
Just having them in Snellville makes them special! After all,
everybody is proud to be somebody in Snellville. I’ll apply
this to my Snellville bees too! Being local, the honey is more
powerful to help with local allergies, making people happier.
What do you like about selling at the Farmers’ Market?
What do you enjoy about Snellville customers?
It is that “WOW!” when I let people taste my honey. I always
see that mysterious, beautiful smile on people’s faces. And
when people are happy, they start to radiate their happiness.
It’s just wonderful when you see them interested in bees’
lives, and questioning why they disappear and what can be
done to protect them.
Raw honey is excellent for health; why is it so good for
you?
Raw honey is the best, most natural product and has many
applications for our lives. Honey not only sweetens things
for us, but is also used for medicinal purposes. Local
honey especially helps with allergies. Honey contains
enzymes which are used by the body to activate chemical
reactions, digestion being the #1 reaction.
Honey has the advantage over sugar because it doesn’t
create a higher blood sugar level than the body can
assimilate. Honey is excellent nourishment and a power
supply for the heart as well as the best food for quick
energy Being very acidic, nothing grows in honey, and it
has antiseptic properties. If applied on cuts it will prevent
infections, it can also help heal burns with fewer scars.

I really enjoy the quality time here. Our volunteers are
the most special people. What do you expect? They’re
Snellvillians. They put their hearts into every Saturday
morning - flawless and well organized. I love them as much
as I love my bees. Overall, every Saturday morning, between
the customers, the volunteers, and the vendors everybody
has a good time. It looks like a little festival. This is what
makes the Snellville Farmers’ Market special.

What would you say is the most interesting thing about
bees? What is the most little-known fact?
In my opinion, the most interesting thing about bees is
their organization. In their relatively very short life, they
will perform all the levels of work in a hive. It takes about
556 members to gather one pound of honey from about 2
million flowers. One honey bee alone makes only 1/12th
a teaspoon during an entire life span. That is hard work!
Bees are so mysterious and so full of wonder: like the
process of becoming a Queen! Who can explain this
amazing development? In the beginning the female eggs